Fire
Symbol Analysis

Fire is a complicated symbol in Lord of the Flies. Like the glasses that create it, fire represents technology. Yet like the atomic bombs destroying the world around the boys' island, fire is a technology that threatens destruction if it gets out of control. Fire also symbolizes the boys' connection to human civilization: their signal fire gives them hope of rescue.

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Fire Symbol Timeline in Lord of the Flies

The timeline below shows where the symbol Fire appears in Lord of the Flies. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Chapter 2

Ralph says he's confident they boys will be rescued. He suggests they build a fire on the mountaintop to alert rescuers.
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Excited by the idea of building a fire, the boys jump up and run to collect wood and bring it to the mountain...
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The fire burns out because the wood is so dry. Piggy starts to criticize the boys, but...
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Ralph says they have to keep the fire burning every day without fail. Jack volunteers himself and his hunters to do the job.
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Piggy notices that sparks from their signal fire have set the trees below them on fire. He argues that instead of running off...
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Chapter 3

...the conversation back on getting rescued. He mentions Jack and the hunter's responsibility for the fire, which causes another argument. Jack claims hunting is work. Ralph shouts that while Jack likes...
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Chapter 4

...horizon—it's a ship! Everyone looks at the mountain, but there's no smoke from their signal fire. They run to the mountaintop and discover the fire is dead and the ship has...
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Eventually Jack apologizes for letting the fire die. Ralph asks Piggy's permission to use his glasses to light the fire. Ralph realizes...
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Chapter 5

...the things they said they'd do, but didn't: store water, build shelters, keep the signal fire going. He says the fire is the most important thing on the island.
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Jack emerges from the forest into Ralph's camp. As his followers steal fire from the signal fire, he invites Ralph's group to come his feast, then disappears.
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Chapter 10

...Piggy's glasses. Meanwhile, Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric discover four people aren't enough to keep the fire going. They decide to keep it burning only during the day. That night, Jack and...
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Chapter 11

Ralph demands that Jack return Piggy's glasses. He mentions again the importance of the signal fire. Jack's tribe has only a cooking fire, he points out. In response, Jack orders his...
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Chapter 12

...then tries to storm it. They can't get in, so they set the thicket on fire. Ralph breaks from the thicket and runs into the jungle. The tribe follows, spreading out...
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